Much at stake long-term as form sides face each other

eircom League:  On the face of it there may be less at stake than when they last came face to face on the final night of the 2005 final campaign with the title still up for grabs. Nobody, however, in the Derry or Cork camps will need to be told that the three points up for grabs at the Brandywell this evening could prove just as critical come the end of the current season.

Both sides come into the game with a bit of form behind them. The visitors have won their last three, including Tuesday's fine defeat of Shelbourne, while Derry, after a run of six undefeated, are ahead of where they were at the same stage last year.

"At home we've been doing very well," says Stephen Kenny. "We've won four in the league and one in the League Cup, we've been scoring a few goals while Sligo are the only side to get one against us and that was a late consolation effort. That said, Cork are a step up on what we've played here so far and we know they'll present the same level of challenge that they did on the occasions we faced them last year."

Derry were convincing winners of the last meeting between the two clubs at the Brandywell but Kenny remains unsure as to what team he will be in a position to field as Barry Molloy (groin) and Kevin McHugh (hamstring) are both major doubts. Back, however, are Eamonn Doherty, Mark Farren and Kevin Deary so there are strong options if changes have to be made.

Cork will have Danny Murphy back from suspension but Billy Woods is unavailable while Neal Horgan is ruled out by a hamstring strain and Colin O'Brien is doubtful for the same reason. The upshot is that Damien Richardson could be short handed in midfield where Admir Softic lis likely to be drafted in.

In the weekend's other games St Patrick's Athletic take on Longford at Flancare Park where the Dubliners will add Mark Rutherford and Stephen Quigley to their squad and their hosts, anxious to put Tuesday's defeat at Bray behind them, will be without either Stephen Paisley or Dean Fitzgerald.

Bray should have both Ciarán Ryan and Brian McGovern available for the visit of Sligo Rovers tomorrow when Seán Connor's main concern will be the fitness of Darren Mansaram who, having served his one-match ban for the sending off at UCD, must now shake off a hamstring problem if he is to feature this weekend.